Trump said he would hold off on some tariffs on Mexico, furthering a pullback in trade action a day after providing a temporary reprieve for auto makers.
The president said after a phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum that fresh tariffs targeting Mexico would not apply to trade that falls under an existing regional pact between the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The pause, he said, was “until April 2nd.” At that point, Canadian and Mexican goods could still face reciprocal levies.
“I did this as an accommodation, and out of respect for, President Sheinbaum. Our relationship has been a very good one,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
His remarks stood in sharp contrast to the seething tensions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau said on Thursday that Ottawa will remain in a trade war with Washington for “the foreseeable future” even if there are “breaks for certain sectors.”
“Our goal remains to get these tariffs, all tariffs, removed,” Trudeau added.
Global markets tumbled after Trump’s announcement of 25 percent tariffs on US imports from Canada and Mexico took effect Tuesday, and economists say Americans are likely to face broad-based price rises.
The United States’ expanded reprieve for Mexico came a day after the White House gave automakers temporary relief too from the levies that hit everything from lumber to avocado imports. (AFP)
